A tale of two Whitecaps: Midfielder Davide Chiumiento (left) is challenged by then-New York Red Bull Dane Richards (right) during a June 20, 2012 Major League Soccer game at BC Place Stadium. Chiumiento was transferred to Swiss club FC Zurich on Wednesday, while Richards became the newest Whitecap on Friday after a trade from New York in exchange for striker Sebastien Le Toux.Ian Lindsay
/ PNG files

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Sebastien Le Toux celebrates his goal against the Colorado Rapids during the second half of an MLS game in Vancouver on June 16, 2012. Vancouver won 1-0. Le Toux was traded to the New York Red Bulls on Friday.Darryl Dyck
/ Canadian Press

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VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps head into Chicago this weekend to fight the Fire without another of their offensive veterans, as they traded striker Sebastien Le Toux to the New York Red Bulls on Friday in exchange for Jamaican international midfielder Dane Richards and allocation money.

The deal comes just two days after the Caps sent Davide Chiumiento packing to FC Zurich of the Swiss League in a transfer deal.

Richards will join his new teammates in Chicago Saturday and be available for their match against the host Fire (5:30 p.m., Sportsnet Pacific, Team 1040).

The 28-year-old Richards joins the Whitecaps after five-and-a-half seasons with the Red Bulls, where he scored 21 goals and 26 assists in 147 appearances. He has one goal and two assists in 17 games this season. He has scored eight goals in 37 international appearances for Jamaica.

The Clemson University product played two NCAA seasons before being selected in the second round (19th overall) of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.

“Richards is a speedy player and very dangerous down the wing,” said Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie in a statement. “He brings plenty of MLS and international experience to our club, so we’re delighted to have him in Vancouver.”

Richards’ acquisition now gives the Whitecaps two speedy Jamaicans. The other one, Darren Mattocks, 21, leads the club with six goals, including two in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to Toronto.

Le Toux’s departure was a shock, considering he was the Vancouver’s second leading scorer, with four goals and one assist in 19 league appearances on a team that has often had difficulty finding the back of the net. He started 18 of the 19 MLS games in which he appeared this season.

Le Toux, 28, joined the Whitecaps from the Philadelphia Union in January 2012.

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